Garment-supporter



No Model.)

A. S. GRIMM.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

No. 588,488. Patented Apr. 80, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA SILAS GRIMIWI, OF ST. MARYS, WVEST VIRGINIA.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,488, dated April 30, 1895.

Application filed March 14, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVA SILAS GRIMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Pleasants and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Supporters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device for supporting garments in which is employed a belt for wearing around the waist, which belt is connected to a plate to extend over the lumbar and sacral spine and means for connecting with the garment. The invention consists in a garment supporter constructed substantially as shown inthe drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a garment-supporter constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detail perspective view showing the bracket and casing for containing the coiled spring; Fig. 3, a sectional view of one of the casings and the spring located therein, the bracket to which the casing is connected, and the rod extending through the coils of the spring; Fig. 4, a detail view of the wire frame connecting with the back of the belt and a portion of the covering therefor and the flexible loops secured to the frame.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a suitable plate of metal or other. preferred material, said plate having a cushion a upon its inner side which is to bear against the lumbar and sacral portions of the spinal column. To the outer side of the plate A and near the lateral edges thereof are suitable hinged wire frames B O, which frames have a covering D E respectively, said covering being of leather or any other material found best adapted to the purpose. These frames are preferably formed of a single piece of wire bent in the form shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the ends of said wires extending through a bracket F at each end of the belt and suitably fastened thereto in any manner Serial No. 541,691- (No model.

found most desirable. These wire frames with their coverings are disposed asuitable distance apart and constitute the belt proper which is designed to pass around the body of the wearer and over the pelvic bones. To the brackets F at each end of the belt are secured suitable casings G, said casings being fas-' tened by riveting or by any other Well known means. These casings are slightly flat in cross section to contain a flat coiled spring H, but the casing and also the spring may be of any shape found best adapted to the purpose, and therefore I do not wish tobe understood as confining myself to any special form of easing or of spring.

The spring H is held within the casing G by means of pins 1) or by any other desirable supports, and extending through the coils of the spring is a red I, the rod being held within the casing by means of a keycsecured to the lower end of theirod. This key may be in shape of a split-ring as shown or by any other device that will serve the purpose intended,

and near the upper end of the rod is a hearing collar d against which the coiled spring comes in contact.

The red I has a plurality of holes 6 throughout its length and at a suitable distance apart so that the key 0 andthe bearing collar (1 may be adjustable upon the rod, whereby said rod may be raised orlowered or its length with relation to the upper end of the casing regulated as circumstances require.

The'rod I may be rendered adjustable by any means that would be considered most simple and practical, the means referred to and shown being one in many that may be employed.

To the upper end of the rod I are pivoted angular armsf which terminate at their upper ends in rings K, the arm and ring being formed of a single piece of wire bent as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings so as to form an eye 9 for the attachment thereto of a suitable flexible loop h to engage with the button of the garment. The rings K are covered with leather or other like material so as to render them more comfortable to the body of the wearer, and the wire arms f being flexible as well as being pivoted to the rod I adapt themselves to the motion of the body and enable the supporting arms to have a movement back and forth.

The pads L which form the covering to the rings K render the supporting arms easy and comfortable to the wearer, the rings being formed round or of any other shape preferred.

The plate A has connected to it a bracket M, and to the bracket a casing N, and within the casing a suitable spring and a rod 0, all of which are like the bracket, casing, spring and rod at the ends of the belt which have been described.

A suitable rectangular wire frameP is pivotally attached to the upper end of the rod 0, the Wire of the frame being bent to form arms '5 by which a pivotal connection is made between the frame and rod. The frame P is covered with leather or other suitable material to form a pad R which comes against the body of the wearer, said frame or pad being connected with the pad or cushion a of the plate A by means of elastic bands It: and buckles Z. The frame P or pad thereof has flexible loops m to engage with the buttons of the garment, and the ends of the belt upon their inner sides have suitable pads S T respectively.

The ends of the belt may be fastened together around the body of the wearer by the usual means employed for this purpose, any of the ordinary and well known fastening devices being employed, such as the hooks n and rings upon the respective ends of the belt, the rings being shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1 of the drawings. In wearing the belt is under the clothes and the several flexible loops are turned down and engaged with the buttons which are on the garment.

Every provision is made to allow the free movement of the body. The rods located in the casings admit of their movement up and down the springs rendering such movement easy to the wearer, and the pivotal connections at the top or upper ends of the rods enable the body to move in any direction with perfect freedom and Without binding of the parts against it.

The elastic bands and buckles hold the frame P and pad R in position and at the same time allow them to have the desired vertical movement required by the movement of the body.

If preferred an elastic band may be used in front of the brackets on each side thereof, which would make about one third the length of the belt and extend over the soft parts of the body not protected by the upper pelvic bones.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A garment supporter consisting of a suitable plate with a pad upon its inner side, a belt connected thereto and comprising wire frames pivoted or hinged to the plate and having a covering of leather or other suitable material, means for fastening the belt around the body of the wearer, and means for connecting the belt with the buttons of the garment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Agarment supporter consisting of asuitableplate, a pad upon the inner side thereof, a belt comprising wire frames hinged or pivoted to the plate and having a suitable covering, casings, springs and rods located within the casings, and devices pivoted to the upper ends of the rods and having loops for connecting with the buttons of the garment, substantially'as and for the purpose described.

3. Agarment supporter consisting of a suitable plate, a pad upon theinner side thereof, a belt comprising wire frames and coverings therefor, said frames being pivoted or hinged to the plate, casings, springs located therein, rods extending through the coils of the springs and means for rendering said rods vertically adjustable, and suitable devices pivotally connected to the upper ends of the rods and provided with loops for engaging with the buttons of the garments, said devices having pads or cushions,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALVA SILAS GRIMM. \Vitnesses:

J. M. WELLS, W. H. REESE. 

